Quality Measurement
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For a large portion of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, healthcare was a service industry that operated on high cost and low quality metrics. To some extent, this is due to the fact that there are a complex array of factors that can influence patient outcomes, including biological factors, treatment options, external influences (such as living conditions, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle choices), and financial considerations. In short, it can be extremely challenging to define what high-quality healthcare delivery even is, and even more difficult to consistently meet expectations.
What is Quality Measurement?
Quality measurement is a healthcare discipline that focuses on making consistent, recognizable improvements to achieve optimal patient outcomes. It is a strategic, data-driven process that utilizes quantitative data to track, assess, and evaluate healthcare services, as well as to compare interventions and treatments to determine which are best suited for a particular patient at a particular time. Ultimately, the goal of quality measurement is to ensure that healthcare providers are meeting or exceeding the expectations of their patients and delivering the best possible quality of care.
Why is Quality Measurement Important?
Quality measurement is important because it identifies practices and interventions that are not effective or that lead to negative outcomes for patients. When delivered in a consistent, standardized fashion, quality measurement can also be used to track progress towards improving health and patient outcomes, and to benchmark against other providers who are delivering similar services. Importantly, quality measurement provides a common language that patients, providers, and payers can use to compare and assess the value of healthcare services.
Tangible Benefits to Learning Quality Measurement
There are many tangible benefits to learning about quality measurement, including:
